Gulf Spill Investigator Asks Companies About Subpoena Power

By

Stephen Power

Nov 8, 2010 5:12 pm ET

The top lawyer for the presidential commission investigating the BP PLC oil spill came up with an unusual line of questioning for the three companies most involved with the failed oil well: Shouldn’t the commission have subpoena power?

Fred Bartlit, chief counsel for the National Commission on the BP-Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling, expressed annoyance during a commission hearing today that Congress hasn’t authorized the panel to issue subpoenas. And he asked witnesses from BP, Halliburton and Transocean whether they’d be willing to ask lawmakers to support giving the panel such power.

When the audience erupted in laughter, Mr. Bartlit repeated himself.

“I’m not kidding,” Mr. Bartlit said. Having subpoena power “will obviously add to our ability to get to the bottom of this.”

Representatives of all three companies said they supported the commission’s work but that they would need to consult their bosses before answering – a response that Mr. Bartlit said he “sort of” expected…

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